What should she do? Jessie looked around wildly. Amy clung to a chair and laughed, and laughed. Her chum desired greatly to have the floor of the New Melford Dainties Shop open at her feet and swallow her!
“What’s the matter with you, Amy Drew? You crazy?” demanded Belle.
“I—I––” Amy could get no farther. She weaved back and forth, utterly hysterical.
“If you young ladies will pay me, please,” stammered the clerk, wondering. “I’d like to wait on these other customers.”
“I want my banana royal, Nick,” cried Belle.
The other three girls gave their orders. The clerk looked from the laughing Amy to the trembling Jessie. He was about to reiterate his demand for payment.
And just then Heaven sent an angel! Two, in very truth! At least, so it seemed to Jessie Norwood.
“Darry!” she almost squealed. “And Burd Alling! We—we thought you were at Atlantic Highlands.”
The two young fellows came hurrying into the shop. They had evidently seen the girls from outside. 99 Darry grabbed his sister and sat her down at a table. He grinned widely, bowing to Belle and her crowd.
“Come on, Jessie!” he commanded. “No matter how many George Washington sundaes you kids have eaten––”